John Ruzicka Acoustic Favorites
Overview
John "the Skipper" Ruzicka plays solo acoustic with a loop pedal and vocal harmonizer, building a full sound without a full band. His sets span classic rock, soul, 80s pop, 90s R&B, and good country — deep cuts, unexpected genre jumps, and reimagined versions that keep rooms engaged. In any given set you might hear Lionel Richie followed by Van Morrison followed by something that surprises everyone.
He's performed at the House of Blues Boston, brewpubs, outdoor festivals, and private events from Boston to Cape Cod. 25+ years playing live.
Great for outdoor gatherings, brewery events, corporate receptions, birthday parties, and wedding cocktail hours.
Reviews
2 reviews
Claire R.
April 3, 2026Onboard yacht acoustic night
We hired John for an acoustic evening onboard a yacht for a private and intimate celebration. He provided great communication, on-time arrival for setup, unique and diverse set list and the guest really enjoyed his music!
Hired as: One Man Band, Singing Guitarist
John Ruzicka Acoustic Favorites
Thanks so much, Claire! One of the more memorable gigs in recent years. What a lovely event!
Drew B.
June 10, 2026Awesome!
John was amazing. The weather turned out to be pretty awful for my event, but John rolled with the punches and was extremely flexible given the circumstances. The music sounded great. Highly recommend.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Booking information
Price range: Contact for rates
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - When required, I purchase a one-day liability policy. Cost is added to client invoice.
What to expect
Hiring a solo acoustic musician doesn't mean settling for quiet background strumming. John brings a full, layered sound built live on stage using a loop pedal and vocal harmonizer — looping guitar parts and harmonies in real time to create something that sounds bigger than one person with a guitar.
The set list is the other thing that tends to surprise people. Rather than the same acoustic staples everyone has heard a hundred times, John specializes in deeper cuts, unexpected genre jumps, and reimagined versions of familiar songs. Classic rock, soul, 80s pop, 90s R&B, and a little good country — sometimes in the same hour. Audiences tend to engage rather than tune out, because they're never quite sure what's coming next.
From an event planning standpoint, John is easy to work with. He arrives early, sets up his own sound system, reads the room, and adjusts his energy to the occasion — whether that's background ambiance during a cocktail hour or something more engaging for a crowd that wants to interact. He's played corporate receptions, brewery events, private parties, birthday celebrations, and outdoor festivals across the South Shore and Cape Cod, and has performed at the House of Blues Boston.
You won't need to coordinate a band, manage multiple vendors, or worry about a large stage footprint. One person, one setup, no drama.
About
John "the Skipper" Ruzicka has been playing guitar and singing for 25+ years, cutting his teeth in bands and open mic nights in San Diego before planting roots on Massachusetts' South Shore. His acoustic solo act brings a loop pedal and vocal harmonizer into the mix, building a layered sound that fills a room without a full band behind it — and without overpowering it. He reads the room, adjusts his volume and energy to the occasion, and is just as comfortable providing the perfect backdrop for a cocktail hour or networking event as he is commanding a stage.
His influences span Southern and classic rock, 80s pop, 90s grunge, soul, R&B, and a little good country — and his sets reflect all of it. He specializes in deeper cuts, unexpected genre jumps, and reimagined versions of familiar songs that keep audiences engaged.
He's performed at the House of Blues Boston, brewpubs, outdoor festivals, corporate receptions, and private events from Boston to Cape Cod.
Additional booking notes
One power outlet. That's it.
John brings his own guitar, amplifier, loop pedal, vocal harmonizer, and microphone. He can set up in a corner of a bar, on a full stage, or anywhere in between — and has done both many times. No special lighting, no sound engineer, no advance coordination required. Setup typically takes about 30 minutes.
Past booked events
May 2026
24
Sunday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 6:00pm
•
East Bridgewater, MA
Set list
The Skipper’s influences include Southern and classic rock, 80s pop, 90s grunge, funk, 60s R&B, and soul – along with a little good country. He revisits each of these styles in his live performances, keeping audiences guessing at what will come next. While not a comprehensive list, the songs below show the breadth and depth of John's catalog.
Allman Brothers Blue Sky
Allman Brothers Melissa
Allman Brothers Midnight Rider
Amy Winehouse Valerie
Bad Company Feel Like Makin Love
The Band The Weight
Ben Harper Steal My Kisses
Bill Withers Ain’t No Sunshine
Bill Withers Use Me
Black Crowes Hard to Handle
Bob Dylan Tangled Up in Blue
Bob Marley Stir It Up
Bob Marley Three Little Birds
Bob Marley Waiting in Vain
Bob Seger Against the Wind
Bob Seger Night Moves
Bob Seger You’ll Accompany Me
Boz Skaggs Lowdown
Bruce Springsteen I’m on Fire
Buffalo Springfield For What It’s Worth
CCR Fortunate Son
CCR Lodi
Culture Club Karma Chameleon
The Cure Just Like Heaven
Crosby, Stills, & Nash Southern Cross
Darius Rucker Wagon Wheel
Dobie Gray Drift Away
Duran Duran Hungry Like the Wolf
Duran Duran Rio
Eagles Take It Easy
Eagles Tequila Sunrise
Eddie Vedder Hard Sun
Elton John Daniel
Faces Ooh La La
Foo Fighters Big Me
Foo Fighters Next Year
George Michael Faith
Grand Funk Railroad Closer to Home (I’m Your Captain)
Green Day Good Riddance
Green Day When I Come Around
Jackson Browne Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne Somebody’s Baby
Jimi Hendrix Hey Joe
Jimmy Eat World The Middle
Joe Cocker Feelin Alright
John Mayer New Light
John Mayer XO
John Prine Angel from Montgomery
Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues
Killers Mr. Brightside
Kings of Leon Revelry
Kings of Leon Use Somebody
Led Zeppelin Hey Hey What Can I Do
Led Zeppelin Ramble On
Lionel Richie Easy
Lionel Richie My Love
Looking Glass Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
Lumineers Ho Hey
Lynyrd Skynrd Simple Man
Lynyrd Skynrd Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynrd Tuesday’s Gone
Marshall Tucker Can’t You See
Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline
Oasis Wonderwall
Old Dominion My Heart is a Bar
Old Dominion Save It for a Rainy Day
Otis Redding Dock of the Bay
Pearl Jam Alive
Pearl Jam Better Man
Pearl Jam Black
Pearl Jam Elderly Woman
Poison Every Rose
Pure Prairie League Amie
Prince Rasberry Beret
Proclaimers 500 Miles
Queen Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Rick Springfield Jesse’s Girl
Romantics What I Like About You
Ronnie Milsap There’s No Getting Over Me
Squeeze Black Coffee in Bed
Stealers Wheel Stuck in the Middle With You
Steve Miller Band Jet Airliner
Steve Miller Band Take the Money and Run
Steve Miller Band The Joker
STP Plush
Sublime Just Like Heaven
Sublime Badfish
Sublime Santeria
Sublime 40oz to Freedom
Sublime Wrong Way
Tesla Signs
TLC Waterfalls
Toadies Possum Kingdom
Tom Petty American Girl
Tom Petty Breakdown
Tom Petty Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Tracy Chapman Gimme One Reason
U2 Pride (In the Name of Love)
Van Morrision Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrision Crazy Love
Van Morrison And It Stoned Me
Van Morrison Into the Mystic
Weezer Say It Ain’t So
Weezer Island in the Sun
Zac Brown Band Jolene
Influences and inspiration
Growing up in small-town Texas, John absorbed Southern rock and soul early — the Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd. But his influences refused to stay in one lane. 80s pop snuck in through Prince and Culture Club. 90s grunge arrived via Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. R&B and soul came through Bill Withers, Otis Redding, and TLC. And a little good country rounded things out.
That mix is exactly what shows up in his sets. On any given night you might hear Dock of the Bay slide into Mr. Brightside, or Melissa give way to Waterfalls. The through-line isn't a genre — it's songs people actually love, played in ways that feel fresh.
Setup requirements
Power outlet